Best Train Board Games 2026: Top 10 Picks Reviewed
Choo-choo! We love a good train game. These picks bring wild ride fun, strategy, and steam-filled excitement to your table.
All aboard, board game fans! We’ve played a ton of train board games so you don’t have to derail your evening with a dud. For this list, we picked train games that are fun, easy to learn, and make you feel like a real railroad tycoon. We focused on how much fun you’ll have, if the rules are easy to pick up, and if your friends will still talk to you after playing. Whether you want to build tracks, collect tickets, or just mess with your friends, these train games offer something for everyone. Full steam ahead!
On this list:
10 Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is the grandpa of all train board games. We keep coming back to this classic because the rules are super simple. You collect cards, claim routes, and try to block your friends (which is honestly half the fun). It’s always a wild ride—sometimes literally. It’s great for new players who want to get their train game fix fast. Plus, grandmas, kids, and even that friend who ‘doesn’t do games’ seem to love it. If you like trains (or just want to win by being sneaky), this one is a must.
9 Railways of the World
This one feels like running your own train empire but without the financial ruin. We laughed for hours building tracks, bidding, and connecting cities before our so-called ‘alliance’ went off the rails. The best part is the big board and chunky pieces, which make us feel like real train bosses. There’s more planning than Ticket to Ride, but still a good amount of luck. We always end up with someone bragging about their cross-country connection. If you want a train game with depth, but not brain-melting, this is gold.
8 Russian Railroads
Russian Railroads is for those of us who love engine-building in a train game setting. We tried to break the game with weird strategies, but it rewards smart planning over sneaky backstabbing. We felt like railway moguls trying to build the longest, best routes across Russia. Every turn feels crucial, and the point salad is real. It’s a bit heavier, but if you have a group who’s not afraid of some math with their trains, this one delivers.
7 Istanbul: Das Würfelspiel
Okay, this one’s a curveball. While not strictly all about trains, it has a mini-expansion called ‘Istanbul: The Train’ that brings in clever train moves. We loved how this dice game keeps things light but still lets us feel clever. The train part adds a fun twist—like, ‘I trade gems, but also, choo-choo!’ It’s a great break between heavier train games for your group. Plus, you can pretend your dice are tiny locomotives.
6 Trains
This is like Dominion mixed with choo-choos. We deck-built our butts off, but then had to figure out how to lay tracks on the map. The blend of strategy and train logistics kept us all on our toes. There’s something about trashing cards that feels just right—especially if you love deck-builders and want more train in your life. It always leads to friendly (mostly) competition and a bit of head-scratching. Seriously underrated.
5 Whistle Stop
Whistle Stop lets you build rail lines across the wild west, while your friends try to outmaneuver you—sometimes using your own tracks! We laughed as we got lost near the mountains, then cheered when we pulled off a clever coal combo. The tile-laying keeps things fresh every game, so your train never follows the same line twice. The components are great, and the game is easy to teach, so new train fans jump right in.
4 Age of Steam
We thought we were smart until Age of Steam roasted us. This is pure, classic train strategy. Build, deliver, and try not to cry when you overbid and lose everything. The tension is real, and so are the laughs when your plan gets derailed by a friend’s track. It’s crunchy, but so rewarding when your freight finally makes it. A must for those who want a heavier train game, but don’t mind a little friendly train-induced heartbreak.
3 Steam: Rails to Riches
Steam is like the cool cousin of Age of Steam. It keeps the core train experience, but with tweaks that make it a bit less mean. We love the way you can adjust your strategies on the fly without feeling like you’re doomed from the start. Goods move, money gets made, and there’s lots of ‘I totally planned that’ moments. It’s a solid pick for train game fans who want depth but not too much stress.
2 Chicago Express
Chicago Express shines in groups that love train games without hours of play. We fought over shares, built railroads, and tried to outguess each other—often badly. It’s fast, mean, and all about hitting the right moment. Easy to set up, quick to play, but with enough depth that every game feels different. Great for folks who want their train fix but are short on time. Plus, the train theme just pops.
1 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
1830 is the king of train games. We had to play it over a few weekends, but wow, what a ride. It’s brutal (we’ve lost friends over this), rich with strategy, and full of sneaky stock market action. You’re not only building trains, you’re also buying and selling rail companies and occasionally betraying your closest pal for profit. If you want a train board game that tests your brain (and your friendships), this is the one to get. That’s why we say, hands down, 1830 is the best train board game out there.
